Systematics of Cretaceous Myrmeleontidae: integrating paleofaunas from the Crato Formation and Burmese amber

• Grant number: 24/23814-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: March 30, 2025
• End date: September 29, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro
• Grantee: Gabriel Marangão Maihato Bueno
• Supervisor: Xingyue Liu
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: China Agricultural University, China
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/06667-9 - Systematics of Blittersdorffia Martins-Neto (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontoidea) from the Crato Formation (Lower Crataceous Araripe Basin), BP.MS

Abstract

This research proposal outlines a project to investigate the systematics of Cretaceous Myrmeleontidae by integrating paleofaunal data from the Crato Formation (Brazil) and Burmese amber (Myanmar). These deposits represent over 75% of known extinct Myrmeleontidae species and are crucial for understanding the early evolution of this family. The project involves examining described and undescribed Myrmeleontoidea specimens in Chinese institutions, including those listed in Table attached to this proposal. The research will focus on revising and expanding an existing morphological character matrix, incorporating newly observed fossil data. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference will be conducted to clarify the relationships within Myrmeleontidae, particularly focusing on the placement of several incertae sedis genera and the controversial subfamily Pseudonymphinae. This research will be conducted in collaboration with Professor Xingyue Liu at China Agricultural University, leveraging his expertise in Burmese amber fossils. The integration of data from these key Cretaceous deposits aims to provide a more robust and comprehensive understanding of Myrmeleontidae evolution. This work will contribute to the proponent's master's thesis and result in publications in scientific journals.